Impact of chilling injury on common fruit plants in the Doon Valley.
Rathore A. C., Raizada A., Prakash J. J., Sharda V. N.
Author Affiliation: Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, 218 Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun 248 195, India.
102 : 1107-1111
Abstract : This paper reports the impact of chilling injury on fruit plants in the Doon valley as a result of low temperatures induced by pool frost that occurred in the winters of 2002-08. The assessment of the extent of chilling injury was carried out by field surveys during spring in 2003, 2007 and 2008. The surveys were carried out in 4 blocks of the valley. A total of 37 orchards of different fruit types were surveyed in 21 villages located in Sahaspur, Vikasnagar, Raipur and Doiwala blocks of Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, India. Data collected on plant mortality in various fruit species were statistially analysed with 4 factors (age, intercrops, windbreak and elevation). Chilling injuries were manifested in several forms in mango, litchi, guava, aonla [Phyllanthus emblica] and pawpaw. Some suggestions to protect the standing fruit crops under frosty weather are given.